From: Lmrutt@aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 18:47:21 EDT
Subject: SOULFORCE ALERT: Civil Disobedience at ECUSA in Denver, 7/4/00
SOULFORCE TO DEMONSTRATE AT EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE
ON JULY 4th IN DENVER
PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1:15 FOLLOWED BY CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Demonstration to Cap off a Summer of Civil Disobedience and Arrests All
Across the United States in Protest of the Exclusion of God's Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Transgendered Children
MEDIA ADVISORY
June 26, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt, Media Coordinator
Cell: 717-951-7712
Laguna Beach CA - On July 4th, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
individuals, and their families, friends and allies will join together in
Denver to protest the exclusionary practices by many churches in the
Episcopal Church USA and support the full inclusion of GLBT individuals in
all aspects the church. The protest is being organized by Soulforce, an
ecumenical people of faith network committed to applying the principles of
nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King to the liberation of
sexual and gender minorities.
"The Episcopal Church (ECUSA), like other denominations, continues to debate
whether LGBT persons are worthy of full inclusion and membership," declared
Kate Bishop, Soulforce Co-chair in Denver. " The debate itself is harmful and
damaging to those within and outside of the Church. Although the Church
presents itself as "liberal" and far ahead of other denominations, if justice
and how it is applied toward LGBT members is used as a measure, ECUSA fairs
no better than other denominations."
People of faith from many denominations will be taking part in the protest
and anticipated arrests. The day begins with gathering at 8am on July 4th at
St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 16th and Ogden. A Soulforce Training in
Nonviolent Resistance to Injustice based on the principles of Ghandi and
Martin Luther King will be led by Dr. Mel White beginning at 8:30am, followed
by a picnic. The training is open to media.
As Bishops and Deputies arrive for their Opening Orientation Session at the
Colorado Convention Center, 14th and California Streets in Denver, Soulforce
supporters will be standing in silent vigil to greet them. A press conference
will take place at 1:15 on the Convention Center steps, featuring
distinguished Episcopalian leaders and other friends and allies. After the
press conference, many of the participants are expected to take place in an
act of non-violent civil disobedience leading to arrest.
"From the beginning of this tragic debate, Episcopal bishops, priests, and
laity have taken courageous and costly stands for full inclusion of sexual
and gender minorities," explained Dr. Mel White. "However, there are
fundamentalist forces working within the Anglican Communion in this country
and abroad that are trying to turn the entire denomination against God’s GLBT
children. We are here to say that this debate must end! We hope that Bishops
and Deputies will not be swayed by the dangerous and regressive voices nor by
the toxic rhetoric of those who wish to oppress us."
To participate in the direct action, individuals must take part in the
Soulforce non-violence training the morning of July 4 or in a brief training
at the Convention Center, 12:45 p.m. All participants are required to sign,
wear, and uphold the Soulforce "pledge to nonviolence" used by Dr. Martin
Luther King and his marchers in 1963.
Similar acts of protest were held during the United Methodist General
Conference in May, and the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian
General Assembly earlier this month. In November, a Soulforce delegation
will conduct another civil disobedience at the meeting of the National
Council of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.
For additional information on the Soulforce action, or to sign up for the
civil disobedience training and non-violent direct action, go to
http://www.soulforce.org or call (949) 455-0999.
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